Many prominent Democrats backing Feltes for state Senate

CONCORD – The only Democratic state Senate primary in his year’s campaign continues to attract broad attention on the state political scene.

Former New Hampshire Legal Assistance staff attorney Dan Feltes on Monday was endorsed by Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern and former state Democratic Party Chairman Ned Helms, who is also a former state Commissioner of Health and Human Services.

Feltes on Wednesday released more than 100 names of public supporters for his campaign against Concord School Board member and former chair Kassandra Ardinger.

The list includes such well-known Democrats as former U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes, former District 15 state Sen. Mary Louise Hancock, Reps. Gary Richardson of Hopkinton, Barbara French of Henniker, Clyde Carson of Warner and James MacKay, the former Mayor of Concord.

Veteran Democratic activists Deborah Butler, Karen Hicks and Liz Purdy are also on the list, as are Concord City Councilors Fred Keach, Byron Champlin and Rob Werner.

Arnie Arnesen, the party’s 1992 gubernatorial nominee and 1996 2nd District U.S. House nominee, is also on the Feltes list.

Also, Feltes has picked up the backing of two attorneys who briefly considered running for the seat themselves, Andru Volinsky and Jay Surdukowski.